The Indian Panorama

Tag: Prakash Shah

  • GOPIO hosts a reception for BJP stalwart Meenakshi Lekhi

    GOPIO hosts a reception for BJP stalwart Meenakshi Lekhi

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): GOPIO International and its chapters in the New York area organized a Meet and Greet event with Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, MP, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, currently a Member of Parliament from New Delhi Parliamentary Constituency. It was attended by GOPIO members, chapter officials, community leaders and media representatives. It was hosted by GOPIO Life Member Ashok Bhatt at his new hotel Lexington Plaza in Manhattan. GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham and Prakash Shah spoke on GOPIO’s mission and its activities. Ms Lekhi spoke on the importance of the Diaspora contributing to the STEM area in the Western countries and answered many questions from the audience. GOPIO presented her with a collector’s item, two designs of First Day Covers released by the US Postal Service at the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin held in New York in 1989.

    The gathered guests with Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi
  • Indian American community is filled with rage over terrorist killings of Hindus in Pahalgam

    Indian American community is filled with rage over terrorist killings of Hindus in Pahalgam

    • I.S. Saluja

    NEW YORK (TIP): Scores of organizations of Indian Americans have expressed shock and rage, and condemned the inhuman killings of innocent Hindus in a terrorist strike in Pahalgam on April 22 . In the worst massacre after the Pulwama terrorist attack in February 2019 , in which 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, 28 persons lost their lives to the madness of the terrorists.

    The Global Indian Diaspora Alliance (GLO-INDIA) President Harry Panaser, strongly condemning the terrorist attack said,   “We in GLO-INDIA reaffirm our solidarity and resolve in the fight against terrorism and wherever it occurs, and the Indian Diaspora will remain united with the Government of India’s efforts to combat terrorism.”

    “GLO-INDIA extends deepest condolences to the victims of the terrorist attacks and their families.”

    GOPIO International  has strongly  condemned the  terrorist action in Pahalgam. The resolution reads: “ The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) unequivocally condemns the terrorist action in Pahalgam area in India where many innocent Civilians and Tourists were wantonly murdered by well-armed terrorists.

    “The World cannot idly stand by each time terrorists take actions and nations must unite and take joint actions against terrorists and those that harbor them,’ said Prakash Shah, President of GOPIO International. “That is the only way to end Terrorism,” Shah added.

    “We in the GOPIO are reaffirming our solidarity and resolve in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and wherever it occurs, and the Indian Diaspora will remain united with Govt of India’s efforts to combat terrorism,” said GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham

    “GOPIO extends deepest condolences to the victims of terrorist attacks and their families.”

    Indian Overseas Congress has condemned the cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

    The IOC resolution reads: “ The Indian Overseas Congress is deeply shocked and outraged by the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which took the lives of 26 innocent civilians. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for a swift recovery for the injured. This deliberate targeting of civilians is not only an assault on human life but also on the ideals of peace and unity that our nation stands for.

    George Abraham, Vice-Chair of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA, stated:

    “I condemn the dastardly attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Kashmir. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Kashmir and the families of those affected. It is truly disheartening that Pakistan continues to serve as a safe haven for terrorists and their sympathizers, perpetuating violence with the goal of destabilizing the region. The international community must take serious note of this ongoing threat.”

    This attack once again brings into sharp focus the troubling gaps in our internal security apparatus. Despite repeated assurances, the situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir remains volatile. Decisions such as the suspension of regular military recruitment, reduced boots on the ground, and limited intelligence coordination are raising serious questions about the strategic priorities of the current administration.

    Security must never be compromised—especially in regions that remain on the frontlines of cross-border threats. We urge the Government of India to take immediate and decisive steps to restore full security presence, enhance intelligence capabilities, and ensure that both preventive and responsive mechanisms are strengthened without delay.

    The Indian Overseas Congress believes that protecting innocent lives must rise above politics. We call on all responsible institutions to prioritize national security with the urgency it demands and to honor the memory of those lost by ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated.

    We stand with the people of Kashmir, and with every Indian who believes in justice, dignity, and a safer future for all.”

    US politicians and elected representatives have also condemned the terrorist attack.

    Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader posted on X (formerly Twitter) :

    @SenSchumer

    My heart breaks for the innocent tourists and locals murdered by terrorists in the revolting attack in Kashmir, and I wish a speedy recovery for the injured. There can be no tolerance for the hatred that breeds this kind of unjustifiable violence.

    Journalists Beyond Borders, an international body of journalists , condemning the barbaric act of killing in cold blood of  28 innocent persons, has appealed to the governments of India and Pakistan to ensure such dastardly and inhuman acts do not recur. JBB said it is a votary of peace and looks at the world as a  family, and , as such, it is the duty of each nation to strive for amity and happiness  of all people of the world.

  • GOPIO International Team Sworn in with Community Leader Prakash Shah as the New President

    GOPIO International Team Sworn in with Community Leader Prakash Shah as the New President

    STAMFORD, CT (TIP): Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) conducted its election last month and the new team was sworn in on January 31st at a virtual Zoom ceremony with veteran community leader from New Jersey Mr. Prakash Shah as its president. Prakash Shah, former Chairman of New Jersey Development Authority, has been a Founder Life member from GOPIO inception in 1989 and was serving as the Global Ambassador and later as the Convener of the GOPIO Convention 2024 in New Jersey in his last term. Others sworn in at the ceremony are media and community leader Mr. Umesh Chandra from Brisbane, Australia as Executive Vice President; Los Angeles area community leader Kewal Kanda as Vice President, and former IBM official and New York Social Activist Ms. Jasbir “Nami” Kaur as Global Ambassador. Also elected were International Coordinators for Africa Mr. Ishwar Ramlatchman and for South Asia Mr. Dhiraj Ahuja,

    The election was conducted according to the GOPIO bylaws by a four-member committee appointed by the GOPIO Executive Council. It was headed by Mr. Mridul Pathak along with Mr. Dinesh Mittal, Mr. Manohar Dev and Mr. Prashant Gupta providing technical support and was under the supervision of GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham. The election was conducted for the position Vice President using eballot.com platform. All other positions were elected unanimously.

    Since the officers come from the different continents of the world, the oath ceremony was conducted virtually and started with a universal prayer by Ms. Devika Gadhavi, who is a young professional working in New York City. Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International welcomed the participants from all continents and provided a brief introduction to the birth of GOPIO and many of its achievements in the last 36 years.

    GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham administering Oath of Office to the new team

    “GOPIO chapters around the world have been doing a lot of organizational groundwork in many countries to promote leadership in public service and the thrust has been to promote and involve the Indian Diaspora in the larger society and local communities wherever they live,” said Dr. Abraham.

    Outgoing president Lal Motwani spoke on the activities done during his term and thanked his team members. Dr. Abraham then administered the Oath of Office.

    In his acceptance speech, President Prakash Shah said, “It is my ambition to try and activate those regions and Chapters which are not active now so that GOPIO does become a functioning Network for the 38 million strong India Diaspora, We need many Young Leaders to get involved in the GOPIO to take GOPIO to a New Level. We will officially relaunch GOPIO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in different parts of the world. We are having our next Convention in Brisbane, Australia March 28-30 2025 under the leadership of Umesh Chandra.

    After the Oath ceremony, all elected officials spoke briefly on their plans for GOPIO. Many GOPIO chapter presidents and other community leaders made remarks complimenting the new officials. 

    The newly elected officials.

    President – Prakash Shah, Somerset, New Jersey, USA

    Prakash Shah has been involved in Founding a number of Leading Community Organizations including Global Organization for the People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) and the NYC based India Chamber of Commerce of America (ICCA). He was a Presidential Appointee under President Clinton to the Southern Africa Fund and was Chairman of New Jersey Development Authority under Governors Florio and Whitman.

    Executive Vice President – Umesh Chandra, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Umesh Chandra is highly respected nationally and internationally.  He was awarded OAM -the highest civilian honor in Australia, in 2020. He is a founder member and board of trustee of the Queensland Multicultural Council and serves on the police ethnic advisory group and Lord Mayors Multicultural round table. He has been the founder and president of GOPIO Qld and serves as a Trustees of GOPIO Queensland. He is the chair of the White Ribbon Queensland State Committee and has been a long-standing ambassador for White Ribbon. He has won many community service awards, including the Bharat Gaurav award in 2011.  Umesh and Usha Chandra were named Brisbane City Councils’ citizen of the year in 2019 and own Globenet Realty.

    Vice President – Kewal Kanda

    Kewal Kanda retired from Boeing Company after 26 years of service as production planner, principal analyst and planning manager. Community service being his passion he is a member of many non-profit community organizations such as Founder of Rajput Association of America (1984), Founder president of GOPIO-LA Chapter, Treasurer of GOPIO International, and President FIA-SC,  He organized RPBD in Los Angeles as NFIA RVP-Pacific South West core member, and four programs as chairman of committee to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, including publishing a its commemorative Coffee Table Book.

    Global Ambassador – Nami Kaur, Yonkers, New York, USA

    J. Nami Kaur successfully completed her 32-year Corporate professional career in Technology, Marketing and Communications at IBM. Since 2009, she has had been actively engaged in the Non-Profit Sector, donating her time and skills pro-bono to New York Botanical Garden, Children’s Hope India, Riveredge Cooperative Board, and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin). She has served GOPIO as a volunteer since its inception in 1989. Since 2009 she has served formally as the Media Council Chair, General Secretary, Chair of GOPIO Election, and Editor of GOPIO Newsletter.

    International Coordinator for Africa – Ishwar Ramlutchman, Durban, South Africa

    Philanthropist and Humanitarian Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman (Mabheka Zulu)  has received many awards. He is the first person of Indian Origin to foster relations with the Largest African Tribe and become part of Zulu Royal Family. He is a former Executive VP of GOPIO International and the President and Founder of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation . He has Supported the Indian diaspora in many of His cultural, peace initiatives and heritage programs. He upholds corporate social responsibility by building schools, feeding and providing health facilities for the poor and disadvantaged in South Africa.

    International Coordinator for South Asia – Dhiraj Ahuja, New Delhi, India

    A self-made businessman, Dhiraj Ahuja has an   international network throughout globe and is a member of Indian Press Club. He has been working effectively as President of GOPIO-Delhi/NCR Chapter. Dhiraj is associated with a few prominent NGOs as well as business houses.

    Formed in 1989, GOPIO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, secular organization with Individual Life Members and over 100 chapters in 35 countries. GOPIO’s volunteers are committed to enhancing cooperation and communication between NRIs/PIOs and the local communities, building networks, bonds, friendships, alliances, and the camaraderie of citizens and colleagues alike.  GOPIO volunteers believe that when they help network the global Indian community, they facilitate making tomorrow a better world for the Indian Diaspora and the countries they live in.